PhD in School Psychology

Overview

The PhD in School Psychology is conferred by conferred by The Graduate School and accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA)*. As such, the PhD program graduates professional school psychologists who are broadly educated within the context of the scientific bases of general psychology and who are more specifically educated in the application and generation of knowledge in their specialized discipline aligned with NASP training standards and the program's APA goals, objectives and competencies.

Candidates learn to take a scientific, problem-solving approach to their practice and to evaluate the outcomes of their work through response-to-treatment interventions and data-based decision making. Candidates are not only prepared to read and understand existing scientific research, but to also develop new applications-oriented knowledge through their own research and scholarship.

An effort is made to develop an active community of learners and researchers. All students are required to become active participants on an established research team.

Program benefits

Engage in scientifically-driven practice within a social justice framework, working with underserved environments and with disenfranchised groups.

Graduate from a doctoral program accredited by NASP and APA, and that is aligned with ISBE standards.

Incorporate research and data into decision-making, as well as to conduct new research and scholarship.

Next steps

*The next APA accreditation site visit for the Ph.D. School Psychology program will be held in 2018. Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: